New Delhi, July 28 (NationPress) - The Civil Aviation Authority, known as the DGCA, has taken decisive enforcement measures against Air India following an audit that uncovered a significant lapse: an overdue inspection of an aircraft's emergency slide. This information was disclosed in Parliament on Monday.

According to Murlidhar Mohol, the Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation, "DGCA promptly grounded the aircraft until the necessary repairs were made. The authority has begun enforcement actions against both Air India and the accountable personnel in accordance with the DGCA's Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual," he stated in a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha.

This statement was in response to a question from DMK member Tiruchi Siva, who inquired whether the government was aware that Air India aircraft had been permitted to operate with overdue emergency slide inspections in violation of essential safety regulations, particularly in the weeks leading up to the crash of flight AI 171 in June. The MP also sought clarification on whether accountability had been established for the DGCA regarding regulatory oversight failures.

The minister emphasized that the DGCA is committed to ensuring airlines adhere to all safety and maintenance protocols by performing regular surveillance, unannounced checks, and nighttime inspections of airlines and their crews.

“In the event of a breach, the DGCA enforces actions based on the protocols outlined in the Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual. Such enforcement can result in warnings, suspensions, cancellations, and even financial penalties against airlines and personnel. DGCA officials are thoroughly trained to carry out oversight and enforcement duties,” he noted.

In response to an additional inquiry, the minister reported that there have been 12 accidents involving registered scheduled helicopters over the past five years, which resulted in the loss of 30 lives.

Of these incidents, seven occurred in Uttarakhand, four in Maharashtra, and one in Chhattisgarh, as stated by the minister.

Murlidhar Mohol informed the Rajya Sabha that the DGCA has commenced intensified surveillance and safety assessments of helicopter operations, particularly for the Chardham Yatra.

The aviation regulatory body has reiterated its safety protocols for helicopter operations nationwide, especially concerning Chardham Yatra, which includes enhancing access control, refining parking arrangements, managing slot allocations, improving pilot training, and ensuring rigorous adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).